Island



(No Model.)

G. LUKE.

CLOTHES LINE GLAMP. No. 455,512. Patented July 7,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

GEORGE LUKE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CLOTH ES-LINE CLAM P.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,512, dated July7, 1891.

Application filed November 28, 1890. Serial No. 372,811- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern; 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE LUKE, of the city of Providence, in thecounty of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in.

Clothes-Line Clamps; and I hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

lhis invention has reference to an improve ment in clothes-line clampsto facilitate the adgustment of a clothes-line.

The object of the invention is to combine the various elements of aclothes-line clamp.

into a new and improved device containing the'essential features of theclamping mechanlsm.

To this end my invention consists in the combination of novel andpeculiar elements to form a convenient and useful article, as. will bemore fully set forth hereinafter, and

, responding parts throughout.

In the drawings, number 3 designates a strong screw formed integrallywith the base of the clamp-frame 4, which has the flange 5 to strengthenthe frame and to act as a bear-' ing-surface. The upper part of theframe is curved, and a head 6 is formed, in which the spindle 7 isrigidly secured. The frame 4 is furnished with the lip 8, against whichthe U-shaped follower 9, journaled on the spindle 7, is held by thepressure of the spring 10. This spring is bent around the spindle 7, andis secured by a pin, as indicated in the drawings.

One arm of the U-shaped follower 9 has a stop 11, which bears againstthe lip 8, when been given a turn sufficient to release theclothes-line, and. prevents the follower from being turned completelyaround and breaking the spring.

The bearing-surface of the U-shaped follower 9 is roughened to secure abetter grip on the clothes-line, and the inner surface of the base ofthe frame 4 is curved to form a guide to direct the clothes-line intothe space between the frame and the follower.

By forming the frame 4: in one piece with the screw 3 the clamp may beattached to a support in any position most convenient for use. The frameat also forms a handle by which to turn the screw and secure it to thesupport.

By the use of this improved clamp a clothesline can be adjusted and heldstretched in a much shorter time than if it were necessary to secureeach length of line to a post and with a knot, as with the clamp theline is merely placed in the guide formed by the inner curved surface ofthe base of the frame and pulled tight, the guide directing the line inbetween the frame 4 and follower 9, and the pressure on the line drawingthe follower outward; but when this pressure is released the spring 10acts to force the follower 9 back toward its normalposition and crowdsthe rope against the inner surface of the flange 5. In this position anybackward pull on the clothes-line serves to produce a firinergrip.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- In a clothes-line clamp, the frame 4, having thescrew 3 formed integrally therewith and provided with the flange 5, lipS, and head 6, to which is rigidly secured the spindle 7, the U-shapedfollower 9, journaled on the spindle 7, having the stop 11 and operatedby the spring 10, as described.

GEORGE LUKE. \Vitnesses: I

J. A. MILLER, J r., HENRY J. MILLER.

